Saskia Koter, Sodastream South Africa's marketing manager, says Sodastream can be traced back 100 years. The device’s ‘ancestor’ was described as an ‘apparatus for aerating liquids’, and was created in 1903 by Guy Hugh Gilbey. The original device was not yet suitable for home commercial use but serviced large private estates and the Queen of England in Windsor Castle.
The first syrup flavours followed in 1920 with cherry ciderette and sarsaparilla and, in 1955, were the first home carbonation units sold to the public. In 1998, Sodastream was bought by Soda-Club, an Israeli company founded in 1991 by Peter Wiseburgh.
Sodastream has seen a 12% increase in revenue in the past year, and sales are expected to rise as the brand introduces new models to the market, such as the Spirit machine and the Genesis.
"Sodastream has always been able to provide consumers with an alternative when it comes to beverages. We all know that the device allows you to turn tap water into sparkling water in an instant through the carbonisation cylinder, but, today, recession or not, it will still only cost our customers R3.33 for a litre or sparkling water."
Koter says that Sodastream’s edge, aside from long-term savings for their clients, is also the positive effect on consumer behaviour. "One of the quirks about being a Sodastream owner means that you actually end up on average drinking three more glasses of liquid a day, which has a positive effect on your health. With our sugar and aspartame free flavours, parents no longer have to push their children to drink ‘boring water’, because now there is a more exciting and less harmful alternative to other soft drinks out there," adds Koter.
Sodastream is set to launch a range of new devices in South Africa, which will aim to provide competitive price points and more eco-friendly alternatives. It will also still have the quality and ergonomic design.
For more information, visit www.sodastream.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.